Natick COA Safety Workgroup to ask board to back police “Financial Scam Roadshow” for seniors

The Council on Aging Board Safety Workgroup in Natick agreed April 9 to ask the full COA Board to support a Natick Police Department–led “Financial Scam Roadshow” that the workgroup envisions visiting senior housing sites, the Natick Library, the Natick Police Station and the Natick Community Senior Center in calendar year 2026.

The April 9 meeting, a first convening of the Safety Workgroup, produced a motion the group plans to present to the COA Board at its April 13 meeting. The motion would endorse the Police’s outreach program and request that organizers count attendance at each site to measure reach, the workgroup said in its minutes submitted by James Fitzgerald, a COA Safety Workgroup member.

Workgroup members documented specific recommendations to strengthen the Police presentation and post-event support. They asked that the Police emphasize that scams are crimes and should be reported, reassure victims that being scammed is not their fault, and provide attendees up front with a Fraud Recovery Checklist (the minutes cite a checklist similar to one provided by Needham Bank). Members also requested a clear explanation of scams currently targeting older residents and a stronger prevention component.

The group reviewed suggestions provided by “Fonda,” including practical skills sessions (for example, demonstrating how to freeze and unfreeze credit cards), establishing an infrastructure for handling scam-related questions (via COA, the Police, or both), and exploring a separate, deeper fraud/recovery program. The minutes note the AARP Fraud Victim Support Group as a possible resource.

Members discussed Wellesley Neighbors, a paid-membership vetted-contractor service (approximately $365 per year), as a model that could reduce contractor-related fraud; the workgroup said it will continue to investigate whether that option or similar services would be useful to Natick residents.

On logistics, the workgroup agreed to finalize three points for the April 13 COA Board packet: (1) a positive motion supporting the roadshow, (2) clarifying who will notify the Police of the workgroup’s support and suggestions (Speakers WG, COA staff, or Safety WG), and (3) identifying who will assist the Police with promotion and with setting dates, times and locations. The minutes note that the Safety Workgroup will assist as needed.

The workgroup’s meeting was held by Zoom at 2:00 PM; attendees listed in the minutes were James Fitzgerald and Laura Forker. The next Safety Workgroup meeting is scheduled by Zoom for Friday, May 11, 2026. The April 9 meeting adjourned at 3:00 PM.